Manila Times29 April 2009 12:10 AM

'RP-US friendship will last forever'-Kenney
By Rhaydz B. Barcia

Pio Duran, Albay: The controversial case of US Marine Cpl. Daniel Smith might be arduous and unforgettable, but United States Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney said the United States and Philippines will remain “friends for life and forever” in spite of the said incident that happened barely three years ago.

“The case of Daniel Smith is closely three years but we’re going to move on. We’re friends for life. This is a sober nation. We will continue our missions as a strong ally of the Philippines and pour in more aid and conduct humanitarian missions under the Balikatan exercises across the country to help out the Filipino people,” Ambassador Kenney told The Manila Times.

Kenney was in Albay province on Tuesday to personally turnover the three-kilometer engineering (encap) project in an outskirt village of Malidong in the municipality of Pioduran Albay to Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda.

“I keep coming back to the Bicol region not only because I am an adopted daughter of Albay province through Governor Salceda but because of a great friendship and extraordinary hospitality,” she said.

“I admire the Bicolanos particularly the people of Albay who are very resilient after going through several tragic disasters,” Kenney continued.

Kenney vowed that humanitarian missions would continue to be done in the Philippines to assist and uplift the lives of the poor stricken communities living in the countryside.

The joint RP-US Balikatan exercises is an annual military humanitarian assistance and training activity, however Kenney said that this year’s activities have a special emphasis on humanitarian assistance to several communities in the Bicol region.

The Balikatan 2009 includes 28 humanitarian civic action projects with direct cost of $428,000 for materials, medication and supplies. The engineering projects consist of two water wells, two-classroom and two road projects. The medical missions expect to have treated over 17,000 patients by the time Balikatan 2009 is completed here.

In his acceptance speech, Governor Joey Salceda expressed profound gratitude to the United States government through Amb. Kenney.

“This is a very laudable effort. The US Armed Forces have left a remarkable and lasting development among the people of Albay. On behalf of the Albayanos, we would like to convey our profound gratitude to all the members of the US Armed Forces participating in these humanitarian missions,” Salceda said.

The municipal council of Pio Duran, Albay even passed a resolution expressing its deep gratitude for laudable and meritorious actions of the US forces, which will be sent to US Pres. Barrack Obama, Salceda said.

While National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro who also witnessed the turnover ceremony said that the projects will bring in development and peace to the grassroots, as it will alleviate the way of life of the people living in far-flung areas here.

Gen. Delfin Bangit, Southern Luzon chief for his part, also said the Armed Forces of the United States have shown equal opportunity to education, health and a decent and comfortable way of life.

According to Bangit, cooperation has been the primary objective of the Ballikatan exercise through the joint civil military activities conducted by the two forces.-- Rhaydz B. Barcia